So I have this blog . . .

I have recently been reminded, by more than one party, that I do indeed, have a blog.  I humbly apologize to my followers.  All 3 of you.  Just kidding.  I know that there are at least 5 or 6.

Actually, I have been tracking my re-pins on Pinterest, and have found that I have a few recipes that are pinned quite a bit.  They are not the recipes that I would have expected.  I thought it would be fun to list my top 5 pins for you.  :)

 5) The first meal log.  apparently, that first log is popular. I thought it would be the post about the day I found out I did have diabetes.  That post has the most comments.  But this one is pinned.


4) Egg cups are next on the list.  I'm so embarrassed at the photography.  It is truly horrid.  But people seem to care more about the recipe than the photo so --- whew!

3) Next up are my favorite little indulgence.  Peanut butter balls!  Mnnnn.  Again the photography is just awful.  But the peanut butter balls are fabulous.  You should try them, even if you aren't diabetic.  They are awesome, easy, and fairly healthy! 

2) This is a funny story.  My kids were complaining about how much salad I was making them eat.  To "cure" this, I declared 'Salad Week.'  Meaning, every meal was a salad.  This was such a hit, that my kids still beg for it!  This is Cheeseburger Salad.  Once you make it, life as a diabetic, or low-carb dieter, will never be the same.  You will discover that you can eat real food, and feel satisfied!  It really is so good!


1) This one shocked me!  My Peanut Butter and Chocolate malt smoothies are pinned lots and lots and lots.  They are good, to be sure.  But the picture is not! But please, make the smoothies, then judge the picture.  You will be too enraptured with the creamy goodness to worry about my silly photography.  :)  Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Smoothie & Chocolate 'Malt' Smoothie

This is a great smoothie.  It tastes like Reese's Pieces in a glass.  So good.  More than that, it is also healthy and less than 300 200 calories!  Sounds like a great breakfast to me.  It also keeps me full all morning.

Peanut Butter Smoothie

1 scoop Vanilla Attain Powder. (You could substitute SlimFast powder or any meal replacement or protien powder.)

1 Tbl. Creamy peanut butter

8 oz. or 1 cup Coconut Milk

1 Cup crushed ice

1 Medium Banana

Blend all ingredients until smooth.  Pour into 2 glasses.  Enjoy with a friend.  :)

 This tastes like a chocolate malt shake, only it's not a shake, and there isn't any malt.  How is this possible?  Nutella.  Oh yeah!  My friends know that I have a slight obsession with Nutella, but I had never considered adding it to a smoothie.   After all, it is a high calorie treat.  But- it's only 10 calories more than peanut butter.  I can work with this.  :)  Turns out, it is delicious and I still came in around 200 calories. And it seriously tastes like a creamy, yummy ice cream shake. Decide for yourself.  Make this soon!

1 cup Vanilla Soy milk
1 small to med. banana
1 Tbl. Nutella
1 scoop vanilla Attain powder
1 cup ice

Blend well and pour into 2 glasses, if you can stand to share.  But you must share, or it's not 200 calories. lol.

Calorie breakdown--

1 scoop attain powder -- 120 cal.
1 banana 90-105 cal. depending on size
1 cup soy or coconut milk 70-90 cal. depending on brand
1 Tbl. Peanut butter 90 Cal.
1 Tbl. Nutella 100Cal.

Each shake averages 190 Calories, based on 2 servings per recipe, or 380 calories for the entire recipe. :)

Have You Started a Log?

One of the things that helps me stay on track with my eating plan is the fact that I have to report what I eat here.  One of the best ways to lose weight is to keep a food log, but it works even better if you have to share that log with someone else.  I have a friend who lost 13 lbs because of keeping a food log.  She didn't do anything different in her diet, she just kept a log and traded logs with a friend.  But when she would reach for an extra cookie, the thought of writing it down and having her friend see how many cookies she ate, gave her pause.  She wouldn't take the extra cookie, so she didn't have to report it.  It works.  So those of you who are following my blog as you work to lose weight, start a food log.  Do it today.  You don't have to change what you are eating, just write it down.  After 4-5 days, take a look at your eating patterns and figure out if you can eat better.

Those of you who follow this blog because you also have diabetes- a food log will help you track your sugars and you can see what foods affect you the most.  For instance, if you wake up with high fasting sugar rates for a few days in a row, and can't think why, you can look back on your food log and figure out if there is a type of food that is reacting badly with your body.  This happened to me.  I thought peanut butter and honey sandwiches on whole wheat bread were a great snack.  Turns out, a whole sandwich is too much for my sugar levels.  I can have a half a peanut butter and honey sandwich OR a whole turkey sandwich.  The food log helped me figure that out.

That being said, here is yesterday's log. :)

Strawberry/banana smoothie made with coconut milk.  Delicious.

These are lemon buddies.  Like Chex muddy buddies, only made with lemon.  Very good.  Not diabetic friendly.  Except, that I can have only a few few and feel like I got something sweet.

I love avocados on my sandwiches.  My family teases me that when I have a sandwich or a hamburger it is mostly veggies and a little meat.  This is probably true, but the lettuce tomatoes and avocados bring so much flavor.  I also have a yogurt.  I should eat this way all the time, it is really delicious.

A yummy snack of strawberries and string cheese.  Mnnn.

Dinner was salad and a frozen pizza.  I think all frozen pizzas need help, so I added some cheese, olives, and on my slices fresh tomatoes.  Once again my family thinks I'm nuts, but I love the freshness of the tomato slices on top.

I would like to say I only had one of these.  The truth is I had 3.  I think I should have eaten more dinner, I was super hungry.  The cookies don't have any flour, but they do have sugar.  Its a c. of Peanut butter, a cup of sugar, an egg and a little vanilla.  Good option for gluten free. 

Still hungry, so I stopped with the sugar-fest and had a few slices of deli meat.